Reversible multi-purpose article carrier

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is directed to a multi-purpose article carrier of unitary construction formed of flexible material and adapted to lie flat when empty to occupy a minimal space for shipping or storage or for use as a seat cushion and to expand when loaded to produce a bag of considerable volume. The device is reversible and may include fastening elements which allow the user to optionally restructure the bag into a variety of distinctive configurations.

United States Patent Corigliano Nov. 12, 1974 1 REVERSIBLE MULTI-PURPOSE ARTICLE CARRIER [76] Inventor: Rose Corigliano, 123 Brackerridge,

San Antonio, Tex. 78209 [22] Filed: Jan. 2, I973 [21] Appl. No.: 320,187

[52] US. Cl. 150/28, 150/32 [51] Int. Cl. A45c 3/06 [58] Field of Search 150/28, 30, 33, 44, 1.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.838.869 l2/l93l Rieb ISO/1.6 2,691.998 10/1954 Stucker ISO/28 R 3,167,106 l/l965 Stienen 150/33 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 150/28 R France .4 150/28 R France 150/28 R Primary E.taminerHerbert F. Ross Attorney, Agent. or FirmColton & Stone, Inc.

[5 7] ABSTRACT The disclosure is directed to a multi-purpose article carrier of unitary construction formed of flexible material and adapted to lie flat when empty to occupy a minimal space for shipping or storage or for use as a seat cushion and to expand when loaded to produce a bag of considerable volume. The device is reversible and may include fastening elements which allow the user to optionally restructure the bag into a variety of distinctive configurations.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDuuv 12 I974 sumaorz' IFIG.5

FIG.4

FIG.7

REVERSIBLE MULTI-PURPOSE ARTICLE CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an article carrier of changeable appearance and configuration having a wide variety of uses, and particularly as a ladies handbag. The article carrier collapses into a generally planar configuration for shipment or storage and expands in use to hold a surprisingly large load. The bag is formed of flexible material and is preferable of unitary construction.

The advantages of a handbag capable of being stored in a flat condition have been previously recognized in the art, as, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,691,998. The desirability of forming a handbag from a unitary blank has long been appreciated as evidenced by Australian Pat. No. 147,301. Reversible, changeable appearance article carriers are also well known in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an article carrier which incorporates a number of advantageous features severally disclosed in the prior art with a unique constructional design to produce greater versatility and broader utility than hitherto available.

The article carrier of the present invention is formed from a unitary blank in order to facilitate assembly and reduce manufacturing costs. The method of assembly is quite simple, involving merely the folding of corner portions of the unitary blank inwardly to produce generally triangular panel members and the joining of contiguous sides of these panel members for a fractional portion of their length by stitching or other suitable means. Carrying handles may be attached to the blank prior to assembly into its final configuration or they could be joined to the bag as a final step in its manufacture.

The article carrier presently disclosed is adapted to lie flat when empty so as to occupy very little space for shipment or storage. In this condition a preferred form of the invention presents a generally square appearance having a unitary bottom panel and four triangular panels of equal area forming the upper surface. When the bag is formed of a material having some bulk and resilience, it is expected that the bag, in its flat condition, will find utility as a seat cushion or pillow.

While the disclosed article carrier may be formed of any flexible material such as cloth, plastic, leather, or paper, a preferred construction comprises a cloth envelope enclosing an intermediate sheet of resilient material or a filler of bulk fabric. Such a construction is readily washable, has the requisite strength to permit usage of the bag in carrying heavy objects such as books, and the material bulk enhances the appearance of the bag. The inside and outside layers of cloth may be dyed with distinctive patterns or colors so that the appearance of the bag may be readily changed by turning it inside out.

The device of the present invention may also be converted into an article carrier having interior partitions by the provision of snap fasteners disposed in the corners of the bag. The partitions are formed by infolding the corner portions and connecting diagonally opposed corners by means of the snap fasteners. By virtue of this feature larger articles may be retained in separate areas 2 of the bag, thus reducing the likelihood that the user I will have to rummage through the entire contents of the bag to find a desired article.

The presently disclosed device may find utility as an attractive ladies handbag of changeable appearance and configuration. It is also an ideal beach bag or shopping bag and could be provided with a shoulder strap for use as a book bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the article carrier of the present invention in its planar or empty condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the article carrier of the present invention as it would appear when carried;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the article carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the article carrier as it appears with the four corners infolded and joined to form interior partitions;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the article carrier of FIG. 4

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the article carrier taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the article carrier of the present invention is constructed, shown as it appears prior to the assembly of the article carrier; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the article carrier as it would appear with cardboard inserts for display purposes.

As shown in FIG. 7, the article carrier of the present invention is preferably formed from a unitary generally square blank 10 of flexible material. Fold lines 12 extend between the mid-points 14 of adjacent sides of blank 10 and define the bases of four generally triangular panel portions 16. By infolding triangular panel portions 16 along fold lines 12 the apices 18 of the triangular panel members 16 become juxtaposed in overlying relation to a generally square bottom panel portion 20 and the sides or legs 22 of adjacent triangular panel portions 16 are disposed in continguous fashion as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. As is apparent, each triangular panel portion is equal in area to substantially onefourth the area of the bottom panel 20, and since all triangular panels 16 are substantially identical, like reference numerals will hereinafter be used to refer to corresponding elements of each. The assembly is completed by joining basal segments 24 of the contiguous legs 22 by stitched seams 23 or other suitable means. The joined basal segments 24 extend from the bases 12 of triangular panel portions 16 to a point short of the triangle apices 18 leaving unattached apical segments 26 of sides 22 to form four generally triangular closure flaps 28 for a substantially square access opening 30. Suitable handles 32 which are affixed to the article carrier in spanning relation to the access opening 30 are preferably secured to the blank 10 prior to assembly into final form but may also be attached adjacent the access opening 30 as a final step in the assembly process.

As shown in FIG. 7 the blank 10 is of generally square configuration, although it is clear that a blank of different shape may be employed where it is desired to produce handbags of a different configuration. For instance, if it were desired to produce a handbag of aesthetically pleasing shape when loaded with articles.

FIG. 2 shows the article carrier as it would appear when lightly loaded and held by means of handles 32. The handbag would obviously be distended more in a vertical direction under a heavier load.

Referring still to FIG. 2 it will be seen that basal corner portions 36 of triangular panel members 16 in combination with the corner portions 38 of bottom panel 20 define four corner pockets 40 which are reinforced by seams 23. Snap fasteners comprising male fastening members 42 and female fastening members 44 are attached to both the inside surface and the outside surface of the article carrier in the immediate vicinity of the corners for use in a manner to be presently described. Preferably these snap fasteners are attached to blank as shown in FIG. 7 prior to the assembly of the article carrier. The provision of snap fasteners on both the outer and inner surfaces of the article carrier enables the user to form like interior partitions when the article carrier'is reversed or turned inside-out.

Diagonally opposed corner pockets 40 may be infolded and joined by means of the aforementioned interiorly disposed snap fasteners to produce an article carrier of the configuration shown in FIGS. 4-6 having diagonal internal partitions 46 dividing the interior of the article carrier into four compartments 48. These interior partitions 46 permit the user to segregate larger articles retained within the article carrier, and the appearance of the article carrier is distinctively different when the corner pockets 40 are infolded and joined in this fashion as will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 4.

As best seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, the material of which the handbag is constructed preferably comprises an intermediate layer 50 of flexible, resilient material such as a foam material or a bulky fabric sandwiched between cloth layers 52, 54. Cloth layers 52 and 54 may be sewn together as at 56. Desirably cloth layers 52 and 54 are each provided with a distincof the handbag may be changed by turning it inside-out.

FIG. 8 showsthe article carrier of this invention having the corner pockets 40 infolded and joined in the manner shown in FIGS. 4-6 and having cardboard inserts 58 disposed within the handbag to prevent sagging of the bag. The inserts 58 maintain the empty handbag in a vertically extended position for purposes of display.

While there have been shown and described the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the device illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An expandable article carrier comprising a generally rectangular panel of flexible material continuous along each of the four sides thereof with material folds defining the bases of four generally triangular panel portions, each of said generally triangular panel portion being of an area equal to substantially one fourth the area of said generally rectangular panel and having an apex remote from said base thereof and legs extending from said apex to said base, said four generally triangular panel portions being infolded along said base defining material folds into overlying relationship to said rectangular panel whereby said legs of adjacent triangular panel portions are contiguous; and attachment means joining portions of said contiguous legs of adjacent triangular panel portions from saidbase to a point short of said apex.

2. The expandable article carrier of claim 1 wherein said generally rectangular panel is of generally square configuration and said generally triangular panel portions are substantially geometrically congruent.

3. The expandable article carrier of claim 1 wherein apical free segments of said generally triangular panel portions constitute generally triangular closure flaps for a generally rectangular access opening, and further comprising handle means spanning said generally rectangular access opening and attached to said article carrier at points adjacent said access opening.

4. The expandable article carrier of claim 1 wherein attached corner portions proximate to said base of said generally triangular panel portions and corner portions of said generally rectangular panel portion define flexible corner pockets in said article carrier, and further comprising fastening means disposed in said corner pockets, whereby diagonally opposed corner pockets may be infolded and joined interiorly of said article carrier to form diagonal interior partitions.

5. The expandible article carrier of claim 1 wherein attached corner portions proximate to said base of said generally triangular panel portions and corner portions of said generally rectangular panel portion define four flexible corner pockets in said article carrier, at least one diagonally opposed pair of said flexible corner pockets being infolded and joined interiorly of said article carrier to form a diagonal interior partition.

6. A reversible, changeable appearance article carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible material comprises an intermediate layer of flexible, resilient material sandwiched between outer cloth layers of distinctive appearance. I

7. A reversible, changeable appearance article carrier as defined in claim 4 further including fastening means disposed on the outer extremity of said corner pockets, whereby diagonally opposed corners of said article carrier may be joined to form diagonal internal partitions when said article carrier is turned inside out.

I members having a base portion hinged to an outer peripheral portion of said lower panel member, the base portions of said plurality of generally triangular panel members defining a geometric figure substantially congruent with said lower panel member, the total area of said plurality of generally triangular panel members member whereby legs of adjacent triangular panel members are contiguous; and attachment means joining portions of said contiguous legs of said adjacent triangular panel members from said base portion to a point short of said apex. 

1. An expandable article carrier comprising a generally rectangular panel of flexible material continuous along each of the four sides thereof with material folds defining the bases of four generally triangular panel portions, each of said generally triangular panel portion being of an area equal to substantially one fourth the area of said generally rectangular panel and having an apex remote from said base thereof and legs extending from said apex to said base, said four generally triangular panel portions being infolded along said base defining material folds into overlying relationship to said rectangular panel whereby said legs of adjacent triangular panel portions are contiguous; and attachment means joining portions of said contiguous legs of adjacent triangular panel portions from said base to a point short of said apex.
 2. The expandable article carrier of claim 1 wherein said generally rectangular panel is of generally square configuration and said generally triangular panel portions are substantially geometrically congruent.
 3. The expandable article carrier of claim 1 wherein apical free segments of said generally triangular panel portions constitute generally triangular closure flaps for a generally rectangulaR access opening, and further comprising handle means spanning said generally rectangular access opening and attached to said article carrier at points adjacent said access opening.
 4. The expandable article carrier of claim 1 wherein attached corner portions proximate to said base of said generally triangular panel portions and corner portions of said generally rectangular panel portion define flexible corner pockets in said article carrier, and further comprising fastening means disposed in said corner pockets, whereby diagonally opposed corner pockets may be infolded and joined interiorly of said article carrier to form diagonal interior partitions.
 5. The expandible article carrier of claim 1 wherein attached corner portions proximate to said base of said generally triangular panel portions and corner portions of said generally rectangular panel portion define four flexible corner pockets in said article carrier, at least one diagonally opposed pair of said flexible corner pockets being infolded and joined interiorly of said article carrier to form a diagonal interior partition.
 6. A reversible, changeable appearance article carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible material comprises an intermediate layer of flexible, resilient material sandwiched between outer cloth layers of distinctive appearance.
 7. A reversible, changeable appearance article carrier as defined in claim 4 further including fastening means disposed on the outer extremity of said corner pockets, whereby diagonally opposed corners of said article carrier may be joined to form diagonal internal partitions when said article carrier is turned inside out.
 8. An expandable article carrier designed to lie flat for storage or when empty and to expand to a bag-like shape when loaded, comprising; a lower panel member of flexible material; a plurality of generally triangular panel members, each of said generally triangular panel members having a base portion hinged to an outer peripheral portion of said lower panel member, the base portions of said plurality of generally triangular panel members defining a geometric figure substantially congruent with said lower panel member, the total area of said plurality of generally triangular panel members being substantially equal to the area of said lower panel member, each of said generally triangular panel members having an apex remote from said base portion and a pair of legs extending from said apex to said base, said plurality of generally triangular panel members being hinged into overlying relationship to said lower panel member whereby legs of adjacent triangular panel members are contiguous; and attachment means joining portions of said contiguous legs of said adjacent triangular panel members from said base portion to a point short of said apex. 